FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)

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SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON FACING FOUR IN TAMPA
Samford softball opens its 2013 season this weekend in Tampa, Fla., at the USF-Wilson DeMarini Opening Day Tournament, hosted by the University of South Florida.  The Bulldogs will play four games over three days, beginning with Florida Atlantic on Friday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. ET.  On Saturday, Feb. 9, Samford opens the day against Marshall at 1:30 p.m. ET and will play the host team, #12 USF at 6:15 p.m. ET.  The final game of the tournament for Samford will be against #15 Michigan on Sunday, Feb 10 at 9 a.m. ET.

OPPONENT SCOUTING REPORT
Florida Atlantic (2012 Record: 15-39, 5-18 Sun Belt) - The perennial Sun Belt contenders had an uncharacterisically down season in 2012, falling under .500 for the first time in program history.  At the helm is legendary Head Coach Joan Joyce, who is in her 19th season at FAU and will be incucted into the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Hall of Fame this year.  They return two pitcher/infielders in Stephanie Call and Taylor Fawbush who combined for 94 hits and 42 RBI last season.  Fawbush saw the most time in the circle for the Owls in 2012 with 156.2 innings while Call logged 57.2 over 11 appearances.

Marshall (2012 Record: 36-21, 15-9 C-USA) - After finishing as the Conference USA Tournament runner-up with a 36-21 record last season, the Thundering Herd return 11 letterwinners in 2013, including preseason All-Conference USA honoree Jazmine Valle (.280/.335/.520) at third base.  Marshall had a potent offense last season that batted .284 as a team with 33 homers, though they lose four of their top five hitters.  On the mound, Andi Williamson returns after posting a 25-13 record last season with a 1.50 ERA over 238.0 innings of work.  She will be their likely No. 1 starter with junior Natalee Pulver as their No. 2.

#12 USF (2012 Record: 50-14, 17-5 BIG EAST) - The Bulls had a breakthrough year in 2012, advancing to Oklahoma City as one of the eight participants in the College World Series.  This season, they're ranked 12th in the USA Today preseason poll and return six starters.  USF has one of the best pitching rotations in the country, led by junior left-hander Sara Nevins who earned an astounding 31-8 record last year with a 1.12 ERA including three no-hitters and a perfect game.  Offensively, they return two of their top three hitters in Kourtney Salvarola (.324/.401/.459) and Kenshyra Jackson (.288/.402/.460).

#15 Michigan (2012 Record: 42-17, 18-5 Big Ten) - The Wolverines are ranked 15th in the USA Today preseason Top-25 and are coming off a season which saw them advance to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual-national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  As the Big Ten favorites, they return seven starters, led by two .300 hitters in Sara Driesenga (.340/.457/.553) and Nicole Sappingfield (.317/.357/.361).  They also return sophomore lefty Haylie Wagner, who was the  unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year in 2012 after posting a 32-7 record over 252.0 innings with a 1.53 ERA and 159 strikeouts.

MADISON DICKEY AND ABBY ADAMS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
The Southern Conference announced its preseason All-Conference teams last week and two Bulldogs are among those chosen.  Sophomore catcher Madison Dickey was named to the First Team while sophomore shortstop Abby Adams was named to the Second Team.  Dickey and Adams were the only two Samford players last season to start all 56 games.
 
This is already Dickey's second preseason honor, as she was also named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-SoCon team earlier this year.  Last year as Samford's primary signal-caller, she led the conference in runners caught stealing with 16 and was second on the team with 192 putouts.  At the plate, she set a Samford single-season school record with 64 hits while also leading the team in batting average (.354), at bats (180), runs (28) and doubles (12) while sharing the team lead in RBI (28) and home runs (7).  She posted an 11-game hitting streak during the end of the season that stretched into the SoCon Tournament, earned 17 multi-hit games with six three-hit performances and had five multi-RBI games.
 
Adams was one of the best all-around shortstops in the conference last season, leading the SoCon with 148 assists while turning in a .261 average at the plate with 41 hits including eight doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI.  She had six multi-hit games during the year, including a perfect 3-3 performance against Murray State on April 25.  She earned a career-best four RBI in a win over Alabama State on April 18, going 2-4 from the plate including a three-run double in the third.

A full list of the preseason honorees  as well as the preseason team rankings are on page seven of the full game notes.

WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK
Tampa, Fla.
High 70s
Isolated Thunderstorms Friday,
Partly Cloudy Saturday/Sunday
6-9 mph winds

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will head southeast for the first of seven SEC matchups this season, facing the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. CT.